QUEZON CITY – DSWD-NCR’s Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) conducted a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) awareness activity through mini-lecture and yoga on April 16 to 17, 2020 to inform and teach the children on how, in simple ways, they can prevent the spread of the virus and stay healthy.

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting millions of people worldwide and the Philippines is one of the most affected countries in Southeast Asia, having almost 7,000 cases as of writing. No one is exempted from the physical and mental harm that the pandemic is causing. With this, different relaxation techniques are being done by RSCC for its children to beat the social stress brought by the crisis.

Yoga, an activity that manages stress through breathing, body awareness, and meditation, was conducted to alter the focus of the children and concentrate their thoughts into more healthier and productive ones. Ms. Kathleen Chumacera, RSCC’s Activity Therapist, used Yoga to help the children release their tension and stress and channel their negative feelings from the current situation towards positive thoughts. The children also made their own stress balls to express their emotions and creativity.

A mini-lecture to raise awareness regarding the coronavirus disease and the do’s and dont’s in the time of pandemic was also conducted by Ms. Sheila Mae Sending, an Activity Therapist of RSCC. The children, as young as they are, actively engaged in the discussion and proved that they are already aware of what is happening in the world. They shared how in their own little ways do they take measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

With strict compliance to virus spread prevention and proper hygiene protocols, the Yoga mats were distributed and placed on the floor with adequate social distancing and alcohols were handed before and after entering the yoga room.

Wrapping up the activity, RSCC instilled to the children the importance of meditating amid any stressful event in life as it improves the body’s physical and mental health. Through this, according to Ms. Chumacera, positivity can be shared from “my heart, to your heart”. ###

From the reports of: Ms. Kathleen A. Chumacera, Activity Therapist, RSCC